Wrestling with Theology

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "A Beautiful Life" Small Catechism: Eighth Commandment Large Catechism: I 263-269 Scripture: 2 Samuel 15:1-6 Commentary: Ambrose, On the Duties of the Clergy

  Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15)  "To Fulfill All Righteousness" Jesus comes to John the Baptist as one of the many people who came to John to be baptized. John objected, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" (3:14). John knew that he was standing in the presence of the Messiah. And he kne...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "Mansions over the Hilltop" Small Catechism: Seventh Commandment Large Catechism: I 222-231 Scripture: Joshua 7:10-26 Commentary: Basil, Preface on the Judgment of God

Wrestling Profile: Sting (60th birthday) Wrestling Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb_a7c5Pmoc - WCW World Heavyweight Title Match: Ric Flair (c) vs Sting (Great American Bash '90) Apostolic Fathers: Didache 9-10

  Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king,   behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,   "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?   For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him" (Matthew 2:1-2)  "We Saw His Star" The story of the Epiphany is one of the most well-known stories surrounding the birt...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "O Father, All Creating" Small Catechism: Sixth Commandment Large Catechism: I 211-216 Scripture: Matthew 19:1-10 Commentary: Origen, Commentary on Matthew 14.19

Wrestling Profile: Eddie Gilbert Wrestling Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mwh-r7tArw (Gilbert's last recorded match in the NWA World Heavyweight Title Tournament) Digging Deeper: Exodus 5-6

"In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples--of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious." (Isaiah 11:10)  Root of Jesse Isaiah also calls Jesus the Root of Jesse. Basically, this means that Jesus comes from the line of Jesse, who was the father of King David. This continues the long line of prophecies about Jesus and the line of K...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "Shepherd of Tender Youth" Small Catechism: Sixth Commandment Large Catechism: I 200-205 Scripture: Titus 2:11-14 Commentary: Gregory of Nyssa, On Virginity 13

"There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit." (Isaiah 11:1)  Shoot of Jesse Even though it looks like the family tree of Jesse has been cut down, leaving only a stump behind, Isaiah prophesies that a shoot will grow from it. The Messiah, who would fulfill the promise of God that David's son will sit on the throne forever, was still to...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "Angry Words, O Let Them Never" Small Catechism: Fifth Commandment Large Catechism: I 188-194 Scripture: Matthew 5:21-26 Commentary: Incomplete Work on Matthew, Homily 11

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)  Prince of Peace The final name in Isaiah's list seems to be the most prevalent today. The "Prince of Peace" is what everyone wants. However, many think this title for Jesus promotes a...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "God Bless Our Native Land" Small Catechism: Fourth Commandment Large Catechism: I 150-157 Scripture: Romans 13:1-7 Commentary: Theodoret of Cyr, Interpretation of Romans

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)  Everlasting Father We can find it hard to see Jesus as being referred to as "Everlasting Father". We've become quite accustomed to Jesus being called the Son of God. He IS the Son of G...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "Oh, Blest the House" Small Catechism: Fourth Commandment Large Catechism: I 105-111 Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4 Commentary: Ambrosiaster, Ephesians 6.5.1

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)  Mighty God Isaiah continues his line of titles and names for Jesus with "Mighty God". Is this necessarily that Jesus is God? No, not necessarily. This is the generic word for "God" in...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "Christ Sits at God's Right Hand" Small Catechism: Third Commandment Large Catechism: I 79-86 Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25 Commentary: John Chrysostom, Hebrews 19.4-5

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)  Wonderful Counselor This morning we begin looking at the most familiar passage of names for Jesus in the Old Testament prophets. We begin with "Wonderful Counselor". What is a "Counsel...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "The Great Redeemer" Small Catechism: Second Commandment Large Catechism: I 51-56 Scripture: Jeremiah 23:1-8 Commentary: Theodoret of Cyr, On Jeremiah 5.23.5-6

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and you will call His name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)  Immanuel Isaiah prophesies that a virgin will conceive and bear a son. What a preposterous notion! Being pregnant and still a virgin? Impossible! In the story where our meditation takes place has God testing King Ahaz for a sign from God. Anything he wants. Ahaz refuses so God gives one any...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah" Small Catechism: First Commandment Large Catechism: I 13-21 Scripture: Isaiah 42:5-9 Commentary: Barnabas 14:4-7

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:1, 9)  "How Majestic Is Your Name" We're continually assaulted with images and signs of the coming Christmas season. But what do we have before us? Christmas. The name of Christ is at the heart of the word. Just as He should be at the heart of this season and every season of life. Throughout the month of December, we'll lo...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "The Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord" Small Catechism: Lord's Supper, Question 5 Large Catechism: V 33-38 Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:26-34 Commentary: John Chrysostom, Homilies on Genesis 60.16

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" (Revelation 14:13)  God's Stewards live with an Awareness of the Present and Future, of Time and Eternity God's stewards live intentionally in the light of God's eternal purpose while...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "Cross of Jesus, Cross of Sorrow" Small Catechism: Lord's Supper, Question 4 Large Catechism: V 28-32 Scripture: Colossians 1:15-23 Commentary: Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 13.33